ELLIE WADDLE
ASSISTANT COACH
Ellie Waddle has been the Assistant Coach of Minnesota Distance Elite since September, 2025. She is responsible for additional support of the current athletes, administrative duties, and furthering the mission of the team.
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Ellie grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota. A life-long athlete, she played soccer for ten years before joining the cross country team her junior year of high school at St. Paul Central. She then ran at Beloit College (NCAA DIII), graduating in 2017 as one of the most decorated distance runners in the history of the college with school records in the indoor 800, Mile, 3K, and DMR. Since college, Ellie has dabbled in the longer distances including marathon finishes at the Twin Cities Marathon and Grandma’s Marathon, and a 35 mile leg of the 100 mile relay at the Kettle Moraine 100 Endurance Races.
Ellie began her coaching career at Washburn High School in Minneapolis, helping their men’s and women’s cross country teams to back-to-back conference championships in 2017 and 2018 and track conference championship in 2018. She then returned to her alma mater as assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for their cross country and track programs. She was promoted to Head Cross Country Coach and Associate Head Track Coach in 2021 and held that role through June of 2025.
Ellie and her husband live in the Twin Cities and enjoy playing tabletop games and spending time outside biking, hiking, and swimming in the lakes whenever possible.
